By creating an attractive, open investment environment with the message “Administration must do whatever is difficult and let easy works for enterprises do,” Bac Lieu province has attracted much investment for socioeconomic development. Vietnam Business Forum has an interview with Mr Luu Hoang Ly, Director of Department of Planning and Investment, on this issue. Kim Bang and Minh Tuan report.
Despite economic slowdown, Bac Lieu province still attracted many domestic and foreign investors since 2009. Could you tell us more about this success?
In recent years, despite the global and domestic economic downturn, Bac Lieu still attracted many domestic and foreign investors. Specifically, in 2010, the province licensed 11 domestic direct investment (DDI) projects capitalised VND8,786 billion (US$430 million) and four foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth US$2,907,894 in total. In 2011, it granted investment licences to 13 DDI projects worth VND2,477 billion and 5 FDI projects worth US$13,075,000. In 2012, although no FDI projects were licensed, Bac Lieu still drew 6 DDI projects valued at VND4,803 billion.
Many big projects have created new driving forces for local social and economic development and brought Bac Lieu province to a new high. Typical projects include Bac Lieu Tower (costing VND319 billion), wind power plant (VND5,400 billion, officially connected with the national grid on May 29, 2013), Hoang Phat Residence (VND711 billion, with basic infrastructure completed), Nha Mat Resort (VND460 billion), Thanh Vu General Hospital (VND1,500 billion), and Saigon – Bac Lieu General Hospital (VND1,400 billion).
How has the province built industrial zones and developed their infrastructure systems to attract investors?
Seeing the importance of tapping potential for economic development and overcoming difficulties and weaknesses in investment attraction, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee adopted drastic, consistent and practical solutions to enhance the provincial competitiveness index (PCI) and draw more investment capital. Specifically, the province reviewed, adjusted, supplemented or remade socioeconomic development master plans and industry-specific development plans towards sustainable development. It also focused on perfecting legal formalities for deploying driving projects like Ganh Hao Economic Zone, Ganh Hao Seaport and Thermal Power Centre. In addition, the province focuses all resources on completing infrastructure systems, especially industrial zones and transportation systems, to power economic development.
Besides, Bac Lieu province has grasped every support of the central government to complete the sea-dyke route, Bac Lieu Bridge 4, and a road linking to the sea dyke. This important route starts from Xa Xia Border Gate (Ha Tien province). At the same time, the province has drastically carried out dynamic programmes and projects for development like Ganh Hao Marine Economic Zone, wind power plant, Ninh Quoi and Lang Tram industrial parks, and Nhat Mat – Cai Cung and Tac Say Resorts.
Specially, the province pays attention to perfecting its policies and legal framework for land reclamation, land handover, investment licensing and construction permission.
Bac Lieu province is attracting more investment capital for tourism, agricultural and seafood processing, and infrastructure development. So, what catalysts will the province need to enhance investment efficiency?
Aside from completing traffic and technical infrastructure systems in industrial zones, Bac Lieu province has also expanded external relations and economic cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho City. Especially, the province signed a partnership agreement with northern Ninh Binh province. The province has utilised various forms and methods to introduce its potentials and advantages to uplift its position and catch the attention and interest of more big domestic and foreign corporations.
According to the Bac Lieu development orientation, apart from drawing investment capital into the agricultural and seafood industry and infrastructure development, Bac Lieu province also focuses on attracting investment capital for tourism, especially spiritual tourism and eco-tourism, which are potential strengths of the province
Recently, the Provincial People’s Committee has approved and issued investment promotion plans in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to attract domestic and foreign investors into Bac Lieu province. Remarkably, the formation of the Bac Lieu Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre has brought a new release of vitality to investment promotion and attraction for the province. In the near term, the Provincial People’s Committee will arrange and consolidate the personnel and operational apparatus of this centre to bring its roles and tasks into full play in the new situation.
To create favourable conditions for investors to carry out their projects soon, although investors have submitted incomplete documents, the Department of Planning and Investment still asked the Provincial People’s Committee to grant investment certificates with the condition that such investors must complete their short documents in one or two months.
How has Bac Lieu province adjusted and implemented investment policies to create an open investment environment and help investors to be “many in number, strong in quality and rich in wealth”? How has the administration pursued administrative procedure reform?
The Bac Lieu Provincial People’s Committee issued Decision 12/2010/QD-UBND dated September 1, 2010 on regulations on investment incentives, support and encouragement policies in the province. Accordingly, the Provincial People’s Committee specifically provided sectors and geographical locations with investment preferences as well as incentive, encouragement and support contents. Specifically, when domestic and foreign organisations, individuals and investors invest in Bac Lieu province, they will be granted preferences in income tax, land allocation or lease, land rent exemption or reduction, and investment support for projects in industrial zones.
In order to facilitate investors, the Provincial People’s Committee issued a coordinating regulation for relevant bodies to reduce procedures and time for investors. Hence, the investment licensing duration has been shortened by 5-20 days compared with the Government regulations. In addition, administrative procedures are publicised together with accountability of administrative units in charge.
Regarding administration, particularly administrative procedure reform, the province consistently follows the message “Administration must do whatever is difficult and let easy works for enterprises do.” In the past time, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee have closely directed administrative procedure reform and troubleshooting for investors. Unnecessary procedures are reduced or removed (66 procedures were abolished in 2011 and 164 procedures were eliminated in 2012) to create a favourable environment for domestic and foreign investors.
Đăng ký: VietNam News